DAVID Marshall has been No.1 since manager Malky Mackay arrived at Cardiff City, but he is the first to admit he owes a big debt of gratitude to rivals Joe Lewis and Elliot Parish.

“Marsh is being pushed all the way by Joe and Elliot, who are driving him on to maintain the form and consistency which have kept him in the team,” says Bluebirds goalkeeping coach Jim Holman.

Mackay rates Marshall the best keeper in Championship football – he has kept 14 clean sheets this season – while Hollman is the man who works with the City stoppers every day.

“All three work to improve and it’s that constant push to develop which keeps them mentally fresh,” says Hollman. “They want to play first-team football. David Marshall has the starting place right now, but knows he has to stay at the top of his game.”

The form of Scotland international Marshall has been a key factor for Cardiff in building a seven-point lead at the top of the Championship.

While he has been in outstanding form, Lewis and Parish must be ready to play at any moment.

Hollman insists it’s a team effort among City’s backroom staff to ensure neither becomes frustrated and stale because they are not playing first-team football.

“Our medical team and sports science department play a major role in working with players when they are not in the starting line-up,” says Hollman. “They know exactly where and how they must improve.

“The sports science guys set all goalkeepers targets. They constantly analyse what they must do, the areas of their game they should work on include strength and conditioning.

“All three of our senior goalkeepers work to improve. It’s that constant push to develop which keeps them mentally fresh. They all want to get better, and will give that everything they have.

“David has been fantastically consistent for Cardiff over the last two seasons and has to keep that going.”

The 6ft 4ins Lewis wants Marshall’s place in the team, but knows he has to be patient as City close in on their promotion dream.

“Joe is a fantastic character to have around,” says Hollman. “The value of having two or three goalkeepers pushing each other hard cannot be underestimated.

“He is ready if or when he is needed – and Elliot, too, is making sure both of them know he wants a taste of first-team football. They all work so well together, combining that rivalry with huge support for each other.”

Former Cardiff City and Crystal Palace goalie Lee Kendall coaches the club’s academy keepers including David Richards, Liam Matthews, the cousin of Wales defender Adam, and Cardiff schoolboy Joe Massaro.

“Lee and I spend a lot of time together,” says Hollman. “We have some talented young lads coming through at academy level and it’s a similar process to the first team. They push each other to keep improving.”

Hollman is a key member of manager Mackay’s first-team staff, having retired from playing when he was offered a chance to become goalkeeping coach by Nigel Worthington when he was Norwich City manager.

“I was aged 23 and it was a big decision,” says former Ipswich keeper Hollman. “But I took the opportunity to start coaching. At the back of my mind I also felt that working at a league club might even throw up the chance to play again at that level.

“I’d join in the five-a-side games and work to impress, but the coaching side expanded and took over completely.

“I had a couple of opportunities to play for Conference clubs, but I enjoyed the coaching and could not be happier than I am at Cardiff City.

“This club provides a fantastic environment to work in.

“Fierce competition for places is crucial to everything we do, but our goalies also get on really well together.